Scoparia plant named ‘Suntutulaki’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Scoparia  plant named ‘Suntutulaki’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; numerous yellow-colored flowers; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Scoparia sp.

Cultivar Denomination: ‘SUNTUTULAKI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Scoparia plant, botanically known as Scoparia sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Suntutulaki’.

The new Scoparia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to create new freely and long flowering Scoparia plants with uniquely-colored flowers.

The new Scoparia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2006, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, of a proprietary selection of Scoparia sp. identified as code number SC99-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Scoparia sp. identified as code number SC86-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Scoparia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in June, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Scoparia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since July, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Scoparia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Scoparia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Suntutulaki’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Suntutulaki’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Scoparia plant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Numerous yellow-colored flowers.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Scoparia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scoparia are more upright than and not as         spreading as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Scoparia have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Scoparia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scoparia are not as compact as plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Scoparia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Scoparia can be compared to plants of Scoparia sp. ‘Suntutuki’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,345. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Scoparia and ‘Suntutuki’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scoparia were taller and broader than         plants of ‘Suntutuki’.     -   2. Plants of the new Scoparia had longer internodes than plants         of ‘Suntutuki’.     -   3. Plants of the new Scoparia had broader petals than plants of         ‘Suntutuki’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Scoparia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Scoparia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Suntutulaki’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Suntutulaki’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the early summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under commercial practice. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Scoparia sp. ‘Suntutulaki’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Scoparia             sp. identified as code number SC99-1, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Scoparia             sp. identified as code number SC86-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About six days at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About three             weeks at 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded             plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit             with numerous lateral branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 16.6 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 38.6 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19.2 cm. Diameter: About             1.1 mm. Internode length: About 1.9 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.4 mm.         -   Shape.—Roughly lanceolate, pinnately-lobed.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Three to five-lobed.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137B; venation, close to 138C. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation,             close to 138C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Small single rotate flowers; flowers             borne in upper leaf axils; flowers face mostly outwardly;             freely flowering habit with about 327 flowers developing per             plant.         -   Fragrance.—Similar to anise.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about four             weeks after planting; long flowering period with plants             flowering continuously from spring to late autumn in             Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 5.1 mm. Diameter: About 2.1 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 6 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base. Length: About 5.2 mm.             Width: About 5.7 mm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Developing and fully expanded petals, upper surface:             Close to 7A. Developing and fully expanded petals, lower             surface: Close to 7C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused at the base; star-shaped calyx. Length: About             3.5 mm to 6 mm. Width: About 1.3 mm to 2 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four. Stamen length: About 2.7 mm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 2.5 mm by 0.9 mm. Anther             color: Close to 9A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 9C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 2.8 cm. Stigma shape: Globose. Stigma color:             Close to 144A. Style color: Close to 153D. Ovary color:             Close to 145C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Scoparia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Scoparia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Scoparia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures from about −5° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Scoparia plant named ‘Suntutulaki’ as illustrated and described. 